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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-02-2023, 08:27 AM
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I also have an FA 400 mm f/5.6. While not an "FA*" lens, it is pretty good too but not the "only telephoto" lens for someone starting Medium Format. Explore the FA* 300 mm f/4 (fast and usable with a TC) and the FA 150-300 mm f/5.6 zoom (versatile but not so good with a TC).
Regards
 FA 400 mm f/5.6 |
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-01-2023, 09:26 AM
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The FA* 300 mm f/4 is quite sharp too but it is a fixed focal length. It is not too big nor too heavy. Used, it should cost about the same as the FA 150-300 mm zoom.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-01-2023, 05:40 AM
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Hi,
I chose the A*300 and both TCs. The 1.4x does well, the 2x not so much. Which, has been my experience with several brands of 2x TCs on small format.
My A*300 came with an aftermarket tripod mount, so that makes a difference.
Stan
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-01-2023, 04:35 AM
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Less choice, heavier and pricier....
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-01-2023, 06:49 AM
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Well, I bought a 480 $ 645 FA 35 mm f/3.5 on eBay last year and I found it "extremely satisfying" in landscape picture-taking. Usable between f/6.3 and f/32 to attain splendid edge-to-edge sharpness.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
09-30-2023, 10:33 PM
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I would say either the 150-300mm or FA* 300mm. The latter plays very well with the TC1.4, the 150-300 does not play well with the TCs. The 400mm is a very light and sharp lens, but in high contrast situations it will bite you with purple fringing. It also plays well with the TC1.4.
If weight and size is not a problem for you, the 600mm is also a very nice lens, but its weight makes it a mission to go out with it. It also plays very well with the TC.
However for a starter kit, I would go for the 150-300. Is a very versatile lens, I used it for wildlife on safari for a long time.
These are taken with the 150-300mm in 2016.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
09-30-2023, 12:28 PM
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
09-30-2023, 12:59 PM
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I have the A* 300, very good lens. But really I think my vote goes to the 150-300. Pretty decent and definitely very handy. I have the 150, which is a terrific portrait lens but probably too close to the 120. I have the 200 which is fine. I wonder about the utility of the 400 on the Z. IMO, long tele is the province of faster/quicker FF and APSC cameras.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
09-28-2023, 08:21 PM
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I always appreciate your technical comments, it reminds me to acknowledge how little I know (in a nice way) about the technology behind the image making machines we play with :-)
My approach is simply what I see, either a picture looks plausibly realistic, as if i stood there and looked at the scene myself, or it looks slighly off, perhaps I cant define it. So nothing wrong with it, just my personal taste. :-)
Shall we come back to the OP's original question?
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
09-28-2023, 02:24 AM
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...and find it superb for landscapes (including cityscapes, etc.)
As to your specific question, I never considered the DA 28-45 simply because I just don't enjoy working with zoom lenses, and also the weight and bulk of it would just put me off (even if I do shoot from a tripod most of the time).
Marco
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
09-27-2023, 10:21 PM
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I haven't replaced mine because it is such a good lens and with a very versatile focal length range. Instead I added the 25mm and the FA35mm but for different reasons. The 25mm is very wide and does give a large field of view which also captures less detail, by definition. The 35mm is a nice wide angle and conveniently light weight for "on the go" but it has the same wide angle compression effect. The 28-45 is the only lens that covers the wide angle view, with the resulting compression, and you can reach an almost zero compression when zoomed to 45mm.
If you want to cut down on weight then you can consider the 35mm and dfa 50mm as a combo, which will give you an almost equivalent range. Probably the same weight in total, but spread out.
Personally I don't like wide angle lenses for landscapes, I think it loses the finer details that is capable to capture in MF. I try to stay with focal lengths longer than 45mm. It also gives less compression effects. The compression I'm referring to is the 'zoom' effect you see on the sides of wide angle shots. Those are nice for effects, but in landscapes it annoys me. Just my own preference....
Now for some whining ---- I have no idea why they bothered with stabilization in the 28-45. It is a wide angle for crying out loud. The lens could have been substantially smaller and lighter without the stabilization, and perhaps could have been a dfa at the same time. -- end of whining...
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
06-15-2020, 07:00 AM
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You can get a "open box" one from the Ricoh USA store for $4,199. That is about $300 USD less. Comes with full US warranty and all goodies included. As stated above, you can also get a refurbished one for $2999 USD.
FWIW, I got a refurbished DA 300mm f4.0 a few months ago and it has worked great. Only $599 too. Less than I could get the lens used.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
06-14-2020, 11:39 PM
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I got a refurb unit direct from Ricoh webstore (with 900 shutter actuations), $2999
Free shipping, arrived in 2 days via FedEx
They got openbox special too
Good luck
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
06-12-2020, 08:26 PM
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Have you considered the refurbished 645Zs on the Ricoh USA website?
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
11-26-2014, 12:08 AM
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Hi,
Just a quick post to let you all know that the latest update to Lightroom 5.7 now has a profile for the lens and it makes quite a big difference. I had been using the 25mm as a close match until now.
Nick.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-29-2014, 05:18 PM
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Crystal Creek, NSW, Australia
Pentax 645z 80-160 FA lens
9 image stitch
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-05-2014, 05:10 PM
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From few weeks ago ... 645Z with FA 150mm f/2.8
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
06-14-2014, 03:22 PM
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You may be right, but i think you are reading an awful lot into a one page press release. For example:
 Quote: “The pending acquisition of Aptina enables us to accelerate our growth in the attractive automotive and industrial end-markets by leveraging Aptina’s highly differentiated imaging technologies in conjunction with our wide sales reach and strong operational capabilities,” said Keith Jackson, president and CEO of ON Semiconductor. “The addition of Aptina vastly expands our scale and capabilities in image sensors and establishes us as a leader in image sensors for industrial and automotive related applications. I am excited about the possibilities that this transaction presents for both companies.” Later on, they describe Aptina company as:
Quote: About Aptina
Aptina is a global provider of intelligent imaging solutions. Aptina has created unique innovations with image sensor technologies such as Aptina Clarity+™ to deliver high-quality, rich images in challenging environments. Aptina patented imaging solutions are in leading consumer electronics devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, gaming, wearables and digital cameras, as well as embedded and industrial solutions for automotive, surveillance, video conferencing, scanning and medical. For more information, visit Aptina Imaging - Home. Nowhere in this press release do they say they are going to gut Aptina's photography business for camera sensors.
Again you might be right - but there just isn't enough in this press release to confirm that. By politely listing what Aptina does today, in a way they are advertising their capabilities - far from a "lets gut this company and get it over with" attitude.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
05-01-2013, 02:53 AM
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Testing my new 645 75mm leaf shutter lens.
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